Horseshoe pitching devices



Aug. 25, 1964 v. s. HRovAT 3,145,703

HoRsEsHoE PITCHING DEVICES Filed May 4, 1961 United States Patent Ofce 3,145,703 Patented Aug. 25, 1964 3,145,703 HORSESHOE PITCHING DEVICES Vincent S. Hrovat, 2203 41st Ave. SW., Seattle 16, Wash. Filed May 4, 1961, Ser. No. 107,768 3 Claims. (Cl. 124-16) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in game apparatus, and in particular it concerns itself with a mechancial device for pitching horseshoes. While primarily intended for use in simulated or miniature horseshoe pitching games utilizing a suitable gameboard and miniature horseshoes adapted to be pitched by the device so as to land on or as closely as possible to designated target areas on the gameboard, the pitching device in accordance with the invention may be also used on a larger scale in outdoor games utilizing full-size horseshoes and pegs for targets in the usual manner, in which event the conventional practice of pitching the horseshoes by hand would not be employed.

In any event, the principal object of the invention is to provide a horseshoe pitching device which is capable to pitch or propel horseshoes in an effective manner and with a desired amount of force, the arrangement of the invention being such that a certain amount of a twist is imparted to the horseshoe at the time of pitching so that the horseshoe slowly turns or rotates within its own plane while in flight, the plane of the horseshoe being canted or inclined transversely of the direction of flight, so as to reproduce as much as possible the behavior of a horseshoe pitched by hand.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction, efcient and realistic operation, and in its adaptability to convenient and economical manufacture.

With the foregoing more important object and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a horseshoe pitching device in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top view thereof, taken in the direction of the arrow 2 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational View of the device;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 4-4 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 5 5 in FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a horseshoe such as may be used in conjunction with the pitching device.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the horseshoe pitching device in accordance with the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 and embodies in its construction a stand 11 having a horizontally elongated base portion 12, adapted to be positioned upon a gameboard or some other flat playing surface. An elongated body 13 is provided at the top of the stand 11 and one end portion of this body, which may be referred to as the front end portion, is provided at the top thereof with a recess 14, adapted to receive a horseshoe 15 to be pitched. As shown, the recess 14 is open at the front end of the body and also at one side of the body, while a portion of the body at the opposite or closed side of the recess provides an upstanding inner edge 16. This edge extends from the open end of the recess along the closed side thereof and then curves inwardly to extend obliquely transversely of the body toward the open side of the recess, as indicated at 16a.

The rear end portion of the body 13 is provided with a longitudinally extending bore 17 and a counterbore 18, accommodating a slidable stem 19 of a plunger 20. The latter is projectable longitudinally of the body into the recess 14, the bottom of the recess being formed with a groove 21 to slidably receive the plunger in its projected position, to which it is urged by a compression spring 22. The spring 22 is disposed in the counterbore 18 on the stem 19 between the closed inner end of the counterbore and the plunger 20, as will be clearly apparent. The stern 19 projects rearwardly from the bore 17 to carry a knob or grip 23, and a shoulder 24 is provided on the stem 19 forwardly of the knob to limit forward sliding of the stem under the action of the spring 22. A shockabsorbing washer or spacer 25 of resilient material is positioned on the stem 19 between the shoulder 24 and the rear end of the body 13, as will be apparent. The plunger 20 may be marked with graduations 26, readable with respect to a stepped edge 27 of the body 13, whereby a player may pull back the stem and plunger to a selected extent for subsequent forward projection of the plunger by the spring 22 with a certain amount of force.

It is to be noted that the body 13 is disposed on top of the stand 11 so that it is inclined in compound planes, ascending from the rear end to the front end of the body' and also transversely in the direction of the open side of the recess 14, as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3.

When the horseshoe 15 is positioned in the recess 14 as indicated by the dotted lines in FIGURE 2 and the spring-loaded plunger 20 is actuated, the horseshoe will be impacted by the plunger and pitched or propelled forwardly from the recess. The rear-to-front inclination of the body 13 will cause the pitched horseshoe to follow a first ascending and then descending trajectory while in flight. Moreover, the aforementioned transverse inclination of the body 13 will cause the horseshoe to rest against the edge 16 while still in the recess 14, and after actuation of the plunger 20 the edge 16 will impart a guiding twist to the horseshoe as it leaves the recess, so that the horseshoe will slowly turn or rotate within its own plane While in flight, as indicated by the arrow 28 and by the dotted lines 15a in FIGURE 2.

While in the foregoing there has been described and shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure, and various modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is:

l. In a horseshoe pitching device, the combination of a supporting stand, an elongated body mounted on said stand and provided in the upper surface of one of its end portions with a horseshoe receiving recess open at the adjacent end and at one side of said body, and a springloaded plunger slidably mounted in said body and projectable longitudinally of the body into said recess in the direction of its open end, said body being disposed on said stand in a compound inclined plane ascending in the directions of the open end and of the open side of said recess.

3 4 2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein a side por- References Cited in the le of this patent tion of said body opposite to the open side of said recess UNITED STATES PATENTS provides an upstanding horseshoe guiding edge disposed in convergent relation to the longitudinal axis of the body 1997238 Sharp Apr 9 1935 in the direction of the open end of the recess. 5 21793861 Konopka May 28 1957 3. The device as dened in claim 1 wherein said recess FOREIGN PATENTS has a bottom surface provided with a groove extending 819,182 Gregt Britain Sept 2, 1959 longitudinally of said body and slidably accommodating said plunger. 

1. IN A HORSESHOE PITCHING DEVICE, THE COMBINATION OF A SUPPORTING STAND, AN ELONGATED BODY MOUNTED ON SAID STAND AND PROVIDED IN THE UPPER SURFACE OF ONE OF ITS END PORTIONS WITH A HORSESHOE RECEIVING RECESS OPEN AT THE ADJACENT END AND AT ONE SIDE OF SAID BODY, AND A SPRINGLOADED PLUNGER SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BODY AND PROJECTABLE LONGITUDINALLY OF THE BODY INTO SAID RECESS IN THE DIRECTION OF ITS OPEN END, SAID BODY BEING DISPOSED ON SAID STAND IN A COMPOUND INCLINED PLANE ASCENDING IN THE DIRECTIONS OF THE OPEN END AND OF THE OPEN SIDE OF SAID RECESS. 